The proposal was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers said Minister of Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Gayantha Karunatilleke.

Minister karunatilleke said that considering the need to control the environmental impacts caused by polythene and the fact that numerous employees are engaged in plastic and polythene related industries made the president to propose the appointment of a committee to prepare national policy and action plan.

There is an increased use of plastic and polythene related products in the society and improper use, disposal and burning of these products have caused many social, environmental, health and economic issues.

Daily per capita use of polythene is about 0.5 kg and about five hundred thousand (500,000) tons of polythene materials are imported to Sri Lanka annually. Some countries in the world have completely prohibited the use of polythene and some have allowed using selected plastic products.